Brett Gardner told me a funny story last night. After he made that tremendous catch to rob Jason Giambi in the first inning, he was back in the dugout after the inning when Giambi yelled over to him from first base.

The Big G, on the sly, flipped Gardner off. “We were both laughing,” Gardner said.

Gardner singled on the second inning and when he was on first base, Giambi wished him well on the season and told him to play hard as good things would happen.

“It was great for him to say that to me,” Gardner said. “Jason is a really good guy. It means a lot to have a veteran on your side like that.”